names
Mina (“habitually”), an assistant weaver, played by Kim;
18th Anticipation (cont’d)
The bugs are bugging Waakimbala again. He has so few children. It’s very wet. It’s very unstable. Things are falling. We’re coming up. You’re not supposed to cross the line, says Waakimbala. A treaty is not a suicide pact. This is magical water! They’re trying to kill us! Grow mandibles! Why don’t you come to my house? says Waakimbala. You could stay here. There’s a nice garden. How many of you are there? Six. Three million. Don’t count the eggs. We can’t let the eggs drown! Come to where I am, says Waakimbala, and I’ll talk to the dragon-wizards.
Explosiony noises come from the garden. Kids, get under the bed, says Waakimbala. Six gigantic insects are frantically passing large muddy rocks up from a big ragged hole in the middle of the garden. You just keep doing this, says Waakimbala, and I’ll go talk to the dragon-wizards. With my kids. Protect them! cry the bugs. You only have two!
The guards go find Calvus or Murry to tell them the bugs are invading the covenant. Murry orders all available guards to form up outside the garden walls but not to go in.
Murry finds Waakimbala in the Great Hall on the way to find the magi. Waakimbala stresses that the bugs aren’t attacking, but that they’re being flooded. Murry heads upstairs looking for magi. He finds Ndapé, but not Calvus; Ndapé warns Calvus via their connection, and goes to calm the men. Murry heads upstairs and finds Calvus and Sonata. Murry decides to dismiss the troops, assuming the bugs are telling the truth. Waakimbala’s followed Murry up; he speaks with Calvus. The bugs claim this is a full diplomatic visit, and as visiting dignitaries they must be fed their hosts’ firstborn. No! No! They have apprentices. We must be fed their apprentices! No! A pig, a sheep, a goat, do you have a cow? No! We want their respect! You have our respect, says Calvus. We did not immediately suspect you were attacking.
We need more space, say the bugs. We have filled the area that our ambassador uses. My house? says Waakimbala. We need space to move around. It is not acceptable for them to be seen by our villagers, says Calvus. We can go to the forest, but our ambassador will need a new place to live. Has the magical rain stopped? Then we’ll need to wait until it’s dry. The bugs promise not to eat anyone who walks on two legs, except for chickens, while they are above. That is unacceptable, says Calvus. The people’s livestock must be safe. Sonata goes to find Gi, who’s still in with Perdix and Nil. She asks if it’s acceptable for the bugs to stay in Gi’s woods. They go to speak with Waakimbala. Nil stays with the unconscious Perdix.
Sonata pushes for a doubling of the vis tribute in return for violating the treaty. The reparations seem fair, say the bugs. You know how much of that vis stuff is down here? they tell Waakimbala. Of course, whoever’s making the rain owes us reparations. Waakimbala passes this on. What do they want as reparations? Cows! Something like cows. Horses? No, says Gi. You’ll have to take it up with the King of Gætan, says Sonata. Find out how long it will take for you to go to the King of Gætan, say the bugs. You’d let me go there? says Waakimbala.
It’s decided: the bugs will stay aboveground until the flooding subsides, and will not eat livestock or pets or people or anything inside the walls, but they’ll eat all the fæces they want. Waakimbala goes to find temporary quarters. Sonata and Calvus discuss betraying the insects.
Gi tells Nil and Perdix about the bugs. Perdix, still exhausted, heads back to their room, with Nil and Mitahaffi.
Calvus goes to tell the Touccians about the bugs. He and Ishta discuss the implications of the bugs, and the lengths that some go to to create intrigue and drama. Ishta’s thinking about additional covenant defense systems.
Calvus warns Tully; some discussion of apprentices, and familiars, and Marzipan, and how there’ll be a council meeting that night. Calvus tells the Chatelaine to inform the magi of the upcoming council meeting, and then goes to find Nil. He tells Nil to prepare to inform the others of his intention to join the covenant at the council meeting that night, and the gift he’s prepared to make.
Gi’s out checking the grounds, making sure nothing’s rendered too unstable by the flooding.
In the hall at the Scarecrow King, Ilba points out the storm’s quieter. Shotik looks at Angelique. Yes, he says. It’s stopped. He stands up. Can I talk to you alone? says Ilba to Angelique. Shotik goes into the room in a bit of a huff. I like you, says Ilba, and the only other way I can fix this is to do something to you, and I don’t want to, so you should leave. Now. You’ll still get paid. Okay! says Angelique. Give me the robe, says Ilba. But my clothes— You’ll get them, says Ilba. Go. She puts on the robe and goes inside. We’re going back to the castle, she says. Now. No, says Shotik. Why did you put on the robe? It seems like you’re only paying attention to the person who’s wearing it. You haven’t been paying attention, says Shotik. I’m not done. You’re starting to frighten me, says Ilba. Control it, says Shotik.
Mitzi, seeing Angelique come back without her clothes, heads over to the Scarecrow King with Bruno. Shotik opens the door. Mitzi wants her clothing and her money. After a moment of staring blankly, Shotik tells her of course, of course. He shuts the door. Take off the robe, he snaps at Ilba. I’m cold, she says. Get a blanket. He starts snapping up Angelique’s clothing. How many different things was she wearing? Take off the robe! Ilba does. Shotik takes the handful of Angelique’s clothing and opens the door and hands it to Mitzi. The money? she says. The covenant will take care of it, says Shotik. Who should I speak to? Perdix stares blankly again for a moment. I’ll send someone. My word is good. I see, says Mitzi.
Angelique’s telling the other whores all about Perdix’ perverted tastes. Jerry and Murry are delighted to hear all about it. Jerry passes word along to Gi, who takes some time to guess which mage he’s talking about.
Gi interrupts an argument between Shotik and Ilba. After some sniping, Gi agrees to settle accounts with Mitzi on Perdix’ behalf.
Shotik sits beside Ilba, who’s crying. Abakoshi’s lying on the day bed in the castle, crying. Mitahaffi’s standing over her, not quite realizing what he’s saying. We’re not done yet, says Shotik. We need to push this until we become different, and see what happens to you. It’s because we’re married and it’s Monkeystuff, says Ilba. Then we need to stop it, says Shotik. You could kill me. Shotik shakes his head. I’m not drawing anyone else into this, says Shotik. That’s when Mitahaffi shakes his head, and stops saying what he’d been saying. I need someone else here to wear the robe, says Shotik. Does it have to be a whore? says Ilba. It can be whomever. Can it be Tishkilla? Can you bring her here? Ilba shrugs. Go, says Shotik.
You want to come speak for a minute with Perdix? You might want to bring something to work on. Wait, says Tishkilla. I should bring something to work on so I can talk to Perdix for a minute? Yes, well, says Ilba. On the way in to the Scarecrow King, Gieron greets his wife, and starts loudly telling her what’s been going on with Perdix; Shotik appears, bellows at everyone to shut up, and asks Tishkilla if she wants to come up and help. I don’t want to play sloppy seconds, says Tishkilla. Then leave, says Perdix. —Some discussion; some argument. It’s pointed out to Perdix that they picked perhaps the wrong place for quiet and discretion. I know that now, says Shotik. Tishkilla agrees to fetch one of the Weaver’s girls to assist Shotik. Shotik drags Ilba upstairs.
Sonata and Calvus talk about Ishta’s suspicions regarding Marzipan, and Palpebra’s investigation.
Gi and Nil discuss Perdix’ shenanigans, and the price Nil will pay to join.
Sonata and Palpebra talk about his joining the covenant, and the price he might have to pay to join.
Mina shows up to Shotik’s room and asks for some privacy before putting on the robe. Shotik stares blankly. Ilba holds up a blanket.
The council room is slowly filling up; the Finger arrives, smiling at everyone. Excuse me, says Sonata. Did you have something to present to the council? Some discussion of how and when the Finger might participate in council meetings. Arguments as to when, either at the beginning, or end, he might be permitted to attend. Sonata points out the various services provided by Calvus. All the more reason why matters you think are merely magical affect far more than just you magi, says the Finger. —It’s decided to alert the Finger when such mundane discussions are liable to happen. The Finger, graciously, leaves. Nil and Palpebra are then asked to leave. After some discussion (including a discussion of what order to bring them in) Palpebra is brought back in for his interview. It is short and pointed and goes well. Discussion hinges on whether to bring him in immediately, or after a season. Some consideration of trading one faction’s concerns for Palpebra for the other’s concerns for Nil. Nil’s brought in for his interview. It’s pointed out he’s already done some things for the benefit of the covenant, to the detriment of the Cristoférians; he mostly acquits himself well, and the decision is made: both will be asked to join immediately.
meta
“We don’t really have a good place to keep monstrous bugs.”
With Friends Like These, Who Needs Secret Eleanoreans?
He’s already done some things for the benefit of the covenant, to the detriment of the Cristoférians
Yes, that's what they'd like you to believe, isn't it.